I was also recently diagnosed with stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma in one tonsil. The tonsil and cervical lymph chain were removed and i have begun radiation and irbutox(sp) therapy. However after talking to another ENT I am considering continuing with the radiation only, and I noticed your husband was only taking radiation as well. Can I ask what you based his course of treatment on? Was that the prescribed treatment couse set by your oncologist or did you opt not to have chemotherapy or the irbuox?
Good luck!
Wil
Hi...I was reading you reply to the viet nam vet when you mentioned the realation of glucose and cancer. I have recently been diagnosed and begun treatment and am looking for some nutritional information. Do you know of any websites or any other information you can pass my way? Many thanks. Wil
Hi Carmen:I am in Australia and thought I might offer a word of comfort, and a little insight into my experiences with this insidious disease.
Like your husband, I was diagnosed as Stage 1V, base of the tongue SCC with significant spread to the neck. The diagnosis followed two visits to my GP who, on both occasions, prescribed a course of antibiotics to reduce the swelling in my glands, supposedly the result of a mystery infection. A third visit, where it was noted the swelling had not reacted favourably to the antibiotics, in fact had actually increased in size. This prompted my GP to order a scan and subsequent referrals and tests led to the diagnosis by a man to whom I owe my life!
I do not know if your system is similar, so bear with me while I attempt to explain the processes used to determine the most appropriate treatment to attack whichever stage the disease has reached prior to diagnosis.
My ENT Specialist referred me to a Head and Neck Cancer Clinic. These clinics are conducted each Thursday AM in Queensland's main hospital and are attended by leaders in all relevant fields, from surgeons to speech therapists, faciomaxial, radiographers, medical and radiation oncologists,
all came one after another to poke and prod, ask questions and at the same time filling me with a feeling of being in the most capabable hands possible.
At the conclusion of the examination period, the group of Specialists discuss each case and are able to discern, collectively, the priorities of each and every case.
In my case it was suggested the initial response should be via Radiation. The ENT surgeon, earlier referred as the man to whom I owe my life, pointed out that there was a six week waiting period for Radiation treatment. He felt it imperative to operate urgently and remove the mass which had developed in the neck. At the same time he proposed to undertake a radical neck resection, aiming to eradicate all areas to which it had spread. The primary tumour was apparently inoperable, and it was decided that a a 7 week radiation course in conjunction with chemotherapy in the final week should "shrivel it up"
Believe me, They Got It Right
Carmen, that was in November 2002, although it seems like yesterday!!
As my surgeon said to me, prior to the initial surgery, "it is a big mountain you are about to climb"
Of course he got that part right too. It is a big mountain Carmen but gee it feels great when you reach the top, when your surgeon tells you "there is no cancer left in your body"
I am only too pleased to answer questions I am sure you have, relating to our experiences. I wish I had the opportunity when I was first given the news, and moved into a new, dark and frightening world.
Please keep in touch.
Love and best wishes
Ray and Karen P.
my mom was just diagnosed with scc stage4 and i dont know how to deal with this. i cnt stop crying, im out of my mind help me